Machine for manufacturing filter rods

ABSTRACT

A machine for manufacturing tobacco industry filter rods, the filter rods comprising single-length longitudinal objects, wherein the machine comprises: a preparation unit for preparing a strand of filtering fibers; a forming unit for forming a continuous filter rod from the strand of the filtering fibers; a feeding unit for feeding multiple-length longitudinal objects; a cutting unit for cutting the multiple-length longitudinal objects into the single-length longitudinal objects; a transferring unit for transferring the single-length longitudinal objects; a positioning unit for placing the single-length longitudinal objects in the continuous filter rod while it is being formed; a cutting head for cutting the formed continuous filter rod that comprises the filtering fibers and the single-length longitudinal objects, into individual filter rods. The cutting unit for cutting the multiple-length longitudinal objects into the single-length longitudinal objects comprises a multi-flute drum conveyor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a machine for manufacturing filterrods.

BACKGROUND

In tobacco industry products, mouthpieces comprising filtering materialare commonly used. Full filter segments having a circular cross-section,as well as tube segments with a tube that may have any thickness of thewall, are used. There are known mouthpieces, in which full segments andtube segments are juxtaposed with each other, wherein the full segmentsand the tube segments are made of different materials or are both madeof the same type of material. There is a need to manufacture suchtwo-segment mouthpieces in a simple and inexpensive manner, and so thatfibers of the filtering material extend along the whole length of themouthpiece. In tobacco industry there is a need for machines, whichmanufacture said mouthpieces in a simple method in a singletechnological operation.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. Itis not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention.

As such, a machine for manufacturing tobacco industry filter rods, thefilter rods comprising single-length longitudinal objects and method forusing the same, comprises: a preparation unit for preparing a strand offiltering fibers; a forming unit for forming a continuous filter rodfrom the strand of the filtering fibers; a feeding unit for feedingmultiple-length longitudinal objects; a cutting unit for cutting themultiple-length longitudinal objects into the single-length longitudinalobjects; a transferring unit for transferring the single-lengthlongitudinal objects; a positioning unit for placing the single-lengthlongitudinal objects in the continuous filter rod while it is beingformed; a cutting head for cutting the formed continuous filter rod thatcomprises the filtering fibers and the single-length longitudinalobjects, into individual filter rods; wherein the cutting unit forcutting the multiple-length longitudinal objects into the single-lengthlongitudinal objects comprises a multi-flute drum conveyor.

The feeding unit for feeding the multiple-length longitudinal objectsmay comprise a channel configured to feed the multiple-lengthlongitudinal objects in a form of a mass flow.

The transferring unit may be configured to transfer the single-lengthlongitudinal objects in the form of a flow of the single-lengthlongitudinal objects along a duct.

The transferring unit for transferring the single-length longitudinalobjects may comprise a transferring drum having a spiral element on itsside surface.

A separating unit may be located at the end of the duct and configuredto receive the single-length longitudinal objects and to transfer thesingle-length longitudinal objects, one by one, to the positioning unit.

The positioning unit for placing the single-length longitudinal objectsinto the continuous filter rod may comprise a rotary positioning dischaving a horizontal axis, wherein the positioning disc may comprisetransporting seats for the single-length longitudinal objects.

The positioning unit for placing the single-length longitudinal objectsinto the continuous filter rod being formed may comprise a longitudinalpushing-off element for pushing the single-length longitudinal objectsout of the transporting seats of the positioning disc.

The positioning unit for placing the single-length longitudinal objectsinto the continuous filter rod may comprise a rotary pushing element forpushing the single-length longitudinal objects out of the transportingseats of the positioning disc.

The machine may comprise a gluing unit for supplying glue onto thesingle-length longitudinal objects.

The gluing unit may have a nozzle for supplying glue is located at acircumference of the positioning disc.

The multiple-length longitudinal object may have a form of a tube.

The machine according to the present invention provides high quality ofmanufactured rods, the quality being indicated by both a repeatabilityof positioning of the tube along the rod, as well as a centralpositioning of the tube in a cross-section of the rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The present machine(s) will be described further, by way of example,with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It should be understood, however, that the accompanyingdrawings illustrate only the various implementations described hereinand are not meant to limit the scope of various techniques, methods,systems, or apparatuses described herein.

FIG. 1 presents a cross-section of a filter rod.

FIG. 2 presents a cross-section of a single mouthpiece.

FIG. 3 presents a multiple-length longitudinal object.

FIG. 4 presents a machine for manufacturing filter rods.

FIG. 5 presents a transporting path of single-length longitudinalobjects.

FIG. 6 presents a fragment of the machine for manufacturing filter rods.

FIG. 7 presents a cross-section across a positioning unit of the machineof FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 presents a fragment of the machine for manufacturing filter rods.

FIG. 9 presents a cross-section across a positioning unit of the machineof FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 presents a fragment of the machine for manufacturing filterrods.

FIG. 11 presents a cross-section across a positioning unit of themachine of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example of a filter rod 1 is presented in a cross-section in FIG. 1.It comprises two longitudinal objects in a form of tubes 2. The tubes 2are located centrally along an X axis of the filter rod 1. The tubes 2are arranged along the X axis such that each filter rod 1 may be cutinto two parts along a plane k that is perpendicular to the X axis, andeach of that two parts may be cut along two planes: m and n, which aredistanced from each other and from the plane k, and which areperpendicular to the X axis. Therefore, four mouthpieces 3 can beobtained from the single filter rod 1, wherein a full end 4 as well as atube end 5 (FIG. 2) may be directed towards a tobacco rod in acigarette. The mouthpiece 3 may be used as one of segments of amulti-segment mouthpiece. FIG. 3 presents a multiple-length longitudinalobject—a tube 6, which during the manufacturing process of the filterrods is cut into several tubes 2, which will be referenced herein assingle-length longitudinal objects 2, wherein the multiple-lengthlongitudinal object 6 is cut along several planes c perpendicular to alongitudinal axis Z of the tube 6.

A machine 10 for manufacturing filter rods 1 having single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 is shown in FIG. 4. The machine comprises apreparation unit 11 for preparing a strand of filtering fibers, aforming unit 12 for forming a continuous filter rod CR from a strand Fof filtering fibers, a feeding unit 13 for feeding the multiple-lengthlongitudinal objects 6 as a mass flow MF, a cutting unit 14 for cuttingthe multiple-length longitudinal objects 6 into single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2, a transferring unit 15 for transferring thesingle-length longitudinal objects 2 as a flow of single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2, a positioning unit 16 for placing thesingle-length longitudinal objects 2 into the continuous filter rod CR,a cutting head 17 for cutting the formed continuous filter rod CR (thatcomprises the filtering fibers and the single-length longitudinalobjects 2), into single filter rods 1.

In the preparation unit 11 for preparing the strand of filtering fibers,the strand F is subject to stretching, both in a transfer direction andin a direction transverse with respect to the transfer direction.Individual fibers of the strand F are separated, therefore it ispossible to form a uniform rod having a circular cross-section in apreliminary forming unit 18 for forming the strand F of filteringfibers, in which the strand F of filtering fibers is graduallycompressed, in order to make it possible to form a continuous rod CRhaving a circular cross-section at the output of the forming unit 12.The machine comprises a wrapper feeding unit 19 for feeding a wrapper P.

The feeding unit 13 for feeding the multiple-length longitudinal objects6 is located above the forming unit 12 for forming the continuous filterrod CR from the strand F of filtering fibers. The feeding unit 13comprises a channel 20 configured to feed the multiple-lengthlongitudinal objects 6 in the form of the mass flow MF i.e. a multilayerstream of the multiple-length longitudinal objects 6. Moreover, thefeeding unit 13 comprises a hopper 21 located directly above the cuttingunit 14. The cutting unit 14 comprises a multi-flute drum conveyor 22and a disc knife unit 23. The multiple-length longitudinal objects 6 areplaced into the flutes of the drum conveyor 22 and the single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 obtained after cutting are received from theflutes of this conveyor in order to form the flow SF of single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2. The single-length longitudinal objects 2 aretransferred as the flow SF of single-length longitudinal objects 2 alonga substantially horizontal duct 25 (FIG. 5). The single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 are transferred in groups G by means of pushers24, wherein only one group G is presented in the drawing to improveclarity. In the presented embodiment, the single-length longitudinalobjects 2 are transferred further by means of a transferring drum 26having a spiral element 27 located on a side surface 28 of thetransferring drum 26. The spiral element 27 pushes the single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 during rotation of the transferring drum 26. Thesingle-length longitudinal objects 2 are transferred from thetransferring unit 15 to the positioning unit 16 directly or by means ofa separating unit 29. The aim of the positioning unit 16 is to place thesingle-length longitudinal objects 2 inside continuous, cylindricallyshaped strand F of the acetate fibers being formed, the single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 being placed by means of a positioning disc 30with transporting seats 31. The transporting path of the flow SF may belocated tangentially to the positioning disc 30. Placing of thesingle-length longitudinal objects 2 is performed when the fibers areinitially formed, loosely enough, so that when the single-lengthlongitudinal object 2 is being inserted, the fibers of the strand F aremoved apart and will surround this object during further forming of thefiber strand F, such that a uniform density of the filtering materialcan be obtained around the said object. The density of the strand F ofthe filtering fibers (across the cross-section of the strand) at thisstage is low and uniform enough, so as to achieve accurate centralpositioning of the single-length longitudinal object 2 in the filteringfibers strand F by means of the positioning disc 30 in the continuousrod CR. The transporting seats 31 may be formed by means of pushers 32on a circumference 33. The rotary motion of the positioning disc 30defining the position of the single-length longitudinal objects 2 issynchronized with the transferring of the wrapper P and the strand F ofthe filtering fibers, therefore the longitudinal arrangement of thesingle-length longitudinal objects 2 in the continuous rod CR beingformed is repeatable and set with high accuracy. In the presentedembodiment, the positioning disc 30 has a horizontal axis Y of rotation.The positioning unit 16 for placing the single-length longitudinalobjects 2 in the filter rod comprises a longitudinal pushing element 34,presented in a cross-section in FIG. 7, for pushing the single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 out of the transporting slots 31 of thepositioning disc 30 during rotation of this disc. The stationary pushingelements 34, 34′ may be substituted by rotary mounted pushing elements37, 37′, for example such as discs presented in FIG. 8 and presented ina cross-section in FIG. 9. The purpose of the stationary pushingelements 34, 34′ as well as the rotary mounted pushing elements 37, 37′is to provide the central positioning of the single-length longitudinalobjects 2 in the cross-section of the continuous rod CR, because thecentral positioning is set for the whole length of the inserted object.The transporting seat 31′ may have a form of a cylindrical groove of adiameter corresponding to the diameter of the single-length longitudinalobject 2. The single-length longitudinal objects 2 may be held by meansof an arc guide 38. Alternatively, or additionally, the single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2 may be held in the transporting seats 31′ bymeans of negative pressure supplied through ducts 39.

At the circumference 33 of the positioning disc 30 there is located agluing unit 35 configured to supply glue onto the single-lengthlongitudinal objects 2. The gluing unit may have a nozzle 36 thatsupplies the glue in a cyclic pulse manner. Owing to use of the glue, asingle-length longitudinal object 2 is being fixed immovably withrespect to the fibers of the continuous filter rod CR that is beingformed.

FIG. 10 presents a fragment of the machine comprising the positioningunit 16′ with transporting seats 31′ arranged peripherally byprotrusions 40 at the circumference 33′ of the positioning disc 30′.Each transporting seat 31′ has two protrusions 40, which limit thesingle-length longitudinal object 2 which is placed in the transportingseat 31′ at both sides. Such solution facilitates obtaining a uniformlongitudinal arrangement of the single-length longitudinal objects 2 inthe continuous rod CR, because the positioning of the single-lengthlongitudinal object 2 is defined at both sides. The single-lengthlongitudinal object 2 is fed into the transporting seat 31′ from the topby means of the separating unit 29. The single-length longitudinalobject 2 is transferred in the transporting seat 31′, wherein at theoutside it is held by means of a guide 38′ having an inner guidingsurface 41 corresponding to the diameter of the single-lengthlongitudinal object 2 (FIG. 11). The guides may have any shape. Sideguides 42, 42′ may be additionally implemented, which are referenced bydashed lines. FIG. 11 presents also two gluing units 35′, which supplyglue onto the outer surface of the single-length longitudinal object 2.Alternatively, it is possible to locate the gluing unit only at one sideof the transporting path of these objects.

1. A machine for manufacturing tobacco industry filter rods, comprising:a preparation unit for preparing a strand of filtering fibers; a formingunit for forming a continuous filter rod from the strand of thefiltering fibers; a feeding unit for feeding multiple-lengthlongitudinal objects; a cutting unit, comprising a multi-flute drumconveyor, for cutting the multiple-length longitudinal objects into thesingle-length longitudinal objects; a transferring unit for transferringthe single-length longitudinal objects; a positioning unit for placingthe single-length longitudinal objects in the continuous filter rodwhile it is being formed; and a cutting head for cutting the formedcontinuous filter rod that comprises the filtering fibers and thesingle-length longitudinal objects, into individual filter rods.
 2. Themachine according to claim 1, wherein the feeding unit for feeding themultiple-length longitudinal objects comprises a channel configured tofeed the multiple-length longitudinal objects in a form of a mass flow.3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the transferring unit isconfigured to transfer the single-length longitudinal objects in theform of a flow of the single-length longitudinal objects along a duct.4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the transferring unit fortransferring the single-length longitudinal objects comprises atransferring drum having a spiral element on a side surface.
 5. Themachine according to claim 1, wherein a separating unit is located atthe end of the duct and configured to receive the single-lengthlongitudinal objects and to transfer the single-length longitudinalobjects, one by one, to the positioning unit.
 6. The machine accordingto claim 1, wherein the positioning unit for placing the single-lengthlongitudinal objects into the continuous filter rod comprises a rotarypositioning disc having a horizontal axis and transporting seats for thesingle-length longitudinal objects.
 7. The machine according to claim 1,wherein the positioning unit for placing the single-length longitudinalobjects into the continuous filter rod being formed comprises alongitudinal pushing-off element for pushing the single-lengthlongitudinal objects out of the transporting seats of the positioningdisc.
 8. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unitfor placing the single-length longitudinal objects into the continuousfilter rod comprises a rotary pushing element for pushing thesingle-length longitudinal objects out of the transporting seats of thepositioning disc.
 9. The machine according to claim 1, comprising agluing unit for supplying glue onto the single-length longitudinalobjects.
 10. The machine according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle forsupplying glue is located at a circumference of the positioning disc.11. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the multiple-lengthlongitudinal object is tubular in form.